They told you it would definitely happen using every media you can think of. But in today’s unpredictable politics there is one thing you can be sure of: Do or die, come what may, we are NOT leaving on 31 October.


First published in October 2019.

Remember these?

β€œDo or die, come what may, we are leaving on 31 October.”

β€œNo border in the Irish sea.”

β€œI’d rather die in a ditch than ask for an extension.”

β€œI want everybody to know there are no circumstances in which I will ask Brussels to delay. We are leaving on 31 October, no ifs or buts.”

These claims and statements by Prime Minister Boris Johnson came just a few of months after the European Council President Donald Tusk had officially announced that the European Union had decided to offer a long extension to the Article 50 process until 31 October 2019, with his now famous advice β€œPlease do not waste this time.”

We now know that Britain will not be leaving the European Union on 31 October, especially because the EU accepted the UK’s request for another extension until 31 January 2020.

We also know that a General Election is now going to take place on 12 December.

As the UK is now gearing up for the 12 December General Election, it is important to remember what Conservative and Government officials have repeatedly said and claimed in the run-up to the 31 October Brexit deadline.

Starting with the top man...


Boris Johnson

During his bid to become Conservative Leader and Prime Minister:


Then, once elected Leader of the Conservatives:


Boris Johnson, 2 Sept 2019 / abc.net.au

James Cleverly, Conservative Party Chairman:


Nicky Morgan, Culture Secretary:


Robert Buckland, Justice Secretary:


Michael Gove, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster:


Sajid Javid, Chancellor of the Exchequer:


Jacob Rees-Mogg, Leader of the House of Commons:


Johnny Mercer, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence People and Veterans:

Mark Francois, ERG Member:



Andrew Bridgen, ERG Member:


Owen Paterson, ERG Member:


There are many more tweets, videos and interviews out there with other Conservative MPs or members of the Government repeating the same 31 October claims over and over.

Don’t be fooled by the beautiful promises that will be made during the incoming General Election campaign.

As you vote, think not just about what you want for yourself but what the right choice is for the whole of the UK – not just the British people in Britain but also the 5 million Europeans in the UK and Brits in the EU27.πŸ”·


If you haven’t yet, please do register to vote today!



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[This is an original piece, first published by the author in PoliticsMeansPolitics.com on 29 October 2019. | The author writes in a personal capacity.]

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(Cover: Twitter/@Conservatives. - James Cleverly and the Brexit clock. | 31 July 2019. / Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.)
Fact-CheckBoris JohnsonAndrew BridgenBrexitBrexitersConservativesERGJacob Rees-MoggJames CleverlyJohnny MercerMark FrancoisMichael GoveNicky MorganOwen PatersonRobert BucklandSajid JavidUK General ElectionUK Politics